CEDAR KEY, FL (352today.com) – Financial assistance is available for Cedar Key clam farmers and affected workers still struggling to recover in the wake of Hurricane Idalia. The disaster assistance program is designed to offset payroll costs to help farmers continue with cleanup efforts and restore crops.
CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion, in partnership with the University of Florida/IFAS, will hold two information sessions to go over how the program can help clam farmers maintain the workforce needed to continue cleanup.
The sessions take place Wednesday, Feb. 7, and Tuesday, Feb. 13, from 3-5 p.m. at the University of Florida/IFAS Nature Coast Biological Station, 552 1st St. in Cedar Key. Those interested in learning more about the program only need to attend one.
“The goal is to help restore Cedar Key’s thriving clam industry,” said Dale French, CareerSource CLM’s executive vice president. “The disaster assistance is designed to help clam farmers continue cleanup efforts by putting workers who have lost employment or have experienced a significant loss of income back to work after the devastating losses caused by Idalia.”
“The clam industry has seen an approximate 40-60% die off rate for existing clam beds,” said French. “This reduction in crop has greatly impacted their bottom lines as the costs of removal are generating little income.”
Shawn Stephenson co-owner at Southern Cross Sea Farms lives that reality.
He says they are only able to salvage about 60% of what was in the beds and they are required by lease to pull up anything that remains. He says it takes a lot of work and for little reward after losing so many of the clams. He says he has been able to keep workers on but is eager to learn about the assistance at one of the upcoming meetings.
French added that, in addition to learning how to apply for disaster assistance, attendees will also be invited to share insights about wages, what’s needed moving forward and how the program can best meet their needs.
Cedar Key farmers supply fresh clams nationwide, contributing 120 million clams to the industry which supports 500 jobs in Cedar Key, according to Leslie Sturmer, UF/IFAS statewide shellfish extension agent.
For more information, head to the CareerSource CLM website.